School of Medicine

• Knowledge of the theories and principles that govern ethical decision-making, and of the major ethical dilemmas in medicine, particularly those that arise at the beginning and end of life and those that arise from the rapid expansion of knowledge of genetics.
  
  
• Compassionate treatment of patients, and respect for their privacy and dignity.
  
  
• Honesty and integrity in all interactions with patients' families, colleagues and others with whom physicians must interact in their professional lives.
  
  
• An understanding of, and respect for, the roles of other healthcare professionals, and of the need to collaborate with others in caring for individual patients and in promoting the health of defined populations.
  
  
• A commitment to advocate at all times the interests of one's patients over one's own interests.
  
  
• An understanding of the threats to medical professionalism posed by the conflicts of interest inherent in various financial and organizational arrangements for the practice of medicine.
  
  
• The capacity to recognize and accept limitations in one's knowledge and clinical skills, and a commitment to continuously improve one's knowledge and ability.

• Knowledge of the normal structure and function of the body (as an intact organism) and each of is major organ systems.
  
  
• Knowledge of the molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms that are important in maintaining the body's homeostasis.
  
  
• Knowledge of the various causes (genetic, developmental, metabolic, toxic, microbiologic, autoimmune, neoplastic, degenerative, and traumatic) of maladies and the ways in which they operate on the body (pathogenesis).
  
  
• Knowledge of the altered structure and function (pathology and patho-physiology) of the body and its major organ systems that are seen in various diseases and conditions.
  
  
• An understanding of the power of the scientific method in establishing the causation of disease and efficacy of traditional and non-traditional therapies.
  
  
• An understanding of the importance of the scientific foundation upon which medicine is based and a recognition of the need for lifelong learning and the scholarly practice of medicine.

• The ability to obtain an accurate medical history that covers all essential aspects of the history, including issues related to age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
  
  
• The ability to perform both a complete and an organ system specific examination, including a mental status examination.
  
  
• The ability to perform routine technical procedures including at a minimum venipuncture, inserting an intravenous catheter, arterial puncture, inserting a nasogastric tube, inserting a foley catheter, suturing lacerations and hanging blood.
  
  
• The ability to interpret the results of commonly used diagnostic procedures.
  
  
• Knowledge of the most frequent clinical, laboratory, roentgenologic and pathologic manifestations of common maladies.
  
  
• The ability to reason deductively in solving clinical problems.
  
  
• The ability to develop management strategies (both diagnostic and therapeutic). for patients with common acute and chronic medical conditions.
  
  
• The ability to recognize patients with immediately life threatening cardiac, pulmonary or neurological conditions regardless of etiology and to institute appropriate initial therapy.
  
  
• The ability to recognize and outline an initial course of management for patients with serious conditions requiring critical care.
  
  
• Knowledge about relieving pain and ameliorating the suffering of patients.
  
  
• The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with patients, patients' families, colleagues and others with whom physicians must exchange information in carrying out their responsibilities.

• Knowledge of the important non-biological determinants of poor health and the economic, psychological, social and cultural factors that contribute to the development and /or continuation of maladies.
  
  
• Knowledge of the epidemiology of common maladies within a defined population, and the systemic approaches useful in reducing the incidence and prevalence of those maladies.
  
  
• The ability to identify factors that place individuals at risk for disease or injury, to select appropriate tests for detecting patients at risk for specific diseases or in the early stage of disease, and to determine strategies for responding appropriately.
  
  
• The ability to retrieve (from electronic databases and other resources), manage, and utilize biomedical information for solving problems and making  decisions that are relevant to the care individuals and populations.
  
  
• Knowledge of various approaches to the organization, financing and delivery of health care.
  
  
• A commitment to provide care to patients who are unable to pay and to advocate for access to health care for members of traditionally underserved populations.